The "Paddling To Phoenix" Story

 It was an ordinary day.  Just got back from Lancaster's premier shopping location, Park City Center which at one time was the largest shopping center in the United States.  Place has over 100 stores, but at one time had quite a few more.  And, in the middle of all these stores was a really neat fountain that was designed and made by my friend Stan Lipman.  He actually made quite a bit of it in the metal shop at Manheim Township High School where we both taught.  The fountain was made of close to 3,000 feet of copper tubing that stood in the center of the mall.  Stan titled his sculpture "The Phoenix" which sat in the center of the mall from when it was first built in 1971 until it was removed from the center of the mall in 1989.  

The "Phoenix" can be seen in the rear center of the photograph.

Stan started sculpting in 1966 and was inspired by sculptor Davis Smith who also worked in metal.  Stan would often take a few of his students along with him to the scrap yards around Lancaster to help him load the scrap metal.  His work was shown at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. and Le Salon des Nation in Paris.  The International Sculpture Conference recognized Stan as a "Master of Modern Sculpture."  He created sculptures for the University of Southern California's Cinema Arts Theatre.  Stan created close to 3,000 pieces during his lifetime.  I have a few in my garden behind my home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where Stan also lived.  Stan died in 1986 at the age of 55.  Recently there was an article in the Sunday News Paper in Lancaster telling how members of the Lancaster Canoe Club used to paddle their kayaks and canoes around the old fountain at Park City Center.  Park City often would hold sportsmen's shows and the Lancaster Canoe Club usually participated.  They would take turns paddling their crafts in the pool that surrounded Stan's fountain.  At times there were three or four kayaks and a canoe or two going around at the same time.  They paddled around in a circle for an hour or two and then someone else would take over.  People would stop by and sit on the benches just to watch the paddlers circle Stan's "The Phoenix."  I recently read that someone said Stan's sculpture was title 'Birds in Flight, but I'm not quite sure where they ever got that information.  And, another fellow who wrote to the newspaper claimed that his father was the one who build the sculpture in the center of Park City.  Over time Stan's sculpture began to deteriorate  due to all the coins that were thrown into the fountains pond.  My wife and I always enjoyed the sculpture in the center of Park City Center and were sad when it had to be removed because of the deterioration.  I must admit that I never had the chance to view the canoes and kayaks as they circled the sculpture, but I bet it must have been an unusual sight.  I was sorry to see the sculpture go, but it was beginning to fall apart and couldn't be repaired.  It was a sight that drew many to the shopping center just to see and will never be replaced again.  Park City Center has recently lost quite a few of their stores and it is hard to find replacements due to all the online shopping that now exists in the United States.  Perhaps another sculpture and pond could bring back visitors to the mall.  May be worth a try!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.